Molding apparatus.



W. H. HOFMANN.

MOLDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I6, 1914.

1 1 52,63 1 Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

, I I T m'o I. IS N w JAIN! CQLIIMIIA PLANOGIAPK CO WASHINGTON, D. C.

W. H. HOFMANN.

MOLDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED- JULY 16, 1914.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 COLUMBIA WM, 60-. WMHING'ION, D. C.

n srn'rns a OFFICE.

MOLDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7', 1915'.

Application filed July 16, 1914. Serial No. 851,392.

I '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WALTE H. Hor- MANN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Richmond Hill, in the countyof Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and useful MoldingApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a molding apparatus and particularly to amachine for roll- 7 ing and packing sand into a pattern mold. A machineof this type is shown in United States Letters Patent No. 951,782granted to me March 8, 1910, and mypresent invention relates toimprovements in the mechanism therein described.

The machine shown in the patent comprises a support for a pattern mold,a roller movable longitudinally over the mold to pack the sand thereinand a rack and pinion for moving the roller, a stand being also providedfor supporting the roller in inoperative position. When the roller ismoved longitudinally to its inoperative position upon the stand the rackby which the roller is moved extends substantially its entire lengthbeyond the stand and is so positioned that it is subject to injury andalso not infrequently causes damage to other property or injury to theemployees.

It is the principal object of my present invention to provide aconstruction in which there is no undue projection of therolleroperating mechanism beyond the roller stand, in any position ofthe roller.

With this object in view my invention contemplates the provision offlexible driving means for moving the roller, the flGXl' bility thereofpermitting the avoidance of the former excessive projection of thedriving means when the roller is in inoperative position. Y

My invention further relates to certain devices, arrangements andcombinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawings in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of the preferred form;Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is atransverse vertical section, taken substantially along the line 3-3 inFig. 1. v

Referring to the preferred form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, aflask A of any usual form is positioned upon a support B which islocated conveniently adjacentto the stand or frame '10 upon which theroller operating mechanism is mounted.

The frame 10 has a laterally projecting portion 11 upon which the rollerR is supported when in the inoperative position indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 1. The roller R is pivotally connected in any convenientman ner to yoke members 12, the inner extremities of which are securedto a casting 13 which in turn is connected to a series of links 1 1which form a link plunger or rack by which the roller B may be movedlongitudinally. Each of the links 14 and also the casting 13 is providedwith rack teeth uponits lower face meshing with a pinion 15 mounted upona shaft16 and connected by suitable gears 17 18, 19 and 20 (Fig. 3) to adrive shaft 21. The shaft 21 may be rotated by a pneumatic motor 22which is controlled to drive theshaft in either direc- 'tion by a handle23. The casting 13 and links 1A are also provided with abutting endsurfaces 14' and are pivoted together along their lower edges. plungeris always supported upon the yoke 12 and casting 13, while atsomeintermediate point the plunger supporte'd'upon the driving pinion.The abutting surfaces are so disposed that the links can move out oflongitudinal alinement in one direction only, being movable upwardlybetween the points of support and downwardly in the portion to the rearof the pinion. As there is no force tending to move any partof theplunger upward between its points of support this portion of the plungeracts like a rigid bar, while the portion to the rear of the pinion 15and guide pulley 24: is free to swing downward into substantiallyvertical position.

'Thespeci'al mechanism shown for driving the pinion 15 constitutes nopart of my invention and any other driving mechanism may be substitutedtherefor.

A guide pulley 24 is supported in brackets 25 upon the side of the frame10 and acts to guide the linked plunger from its horizontal position toa vertical position in which it is alined with a well or chamber 26within which the plunger is suspended when the roller is in inoperativeposition. This chamber as shown is extended below the foundations of themachine and is positioned closely adjacent to the stand 10.

One end of the linked A flanged guide wheel 27 overlies the plungerlinks and keeps them in contact with the pinion 15.

A cover or guard 28 may be provided to protect the moving parts of themechanism, and access thereto may be had through a door 29. Stops 30 maybe secured to the linked plunger in position to contact with theoperating lever 23 as the plunger ap proaches its limit of travel ineither direction. 23, they operate to move the handle to its centralposition, thereby shutting off the air and stopping the roller.

The operation of the machine is thought to be clear from the precedingdescription but may be briefly described as follows: When: the roller isin inoperative position, the linked plunger is suspended within thechamber and therefore does not unduly extend beyond the frame of themachine. When the roller is to be moved over the mold A, the pinion 15is rotated in a clockwise direction to force the links consecutivelytoward the right as viewed in Fig. 1. As the links approach and passbeneath the pinion 15 the abutting edges 145 are brought into contactand the plunger becomes a substantially rigid operating member.

7 Having thus described a preferred form of my invention, it will beevident that other changes and modifications can be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the :spirit and scope of myinvention as set forth in the claims and I do not wish to be limited tothe details herein disclosed, but

What 1 do claim is 1. A molding apparatus having in combination .asupport for a flask, a roller movable over the flask to .pack the sandtherein, and means for moving said roller, said --means comprising aflexible plunger whereby excessive rearward horizontal extension of saidmeans is avoided any position of the roller.

2 .A molding apparatus having in combination a support for the flask, aroller movable over the flask to pack the sand therein, and means formoving said roller,

As the stops contact with the handle said means comprising a pluralityof rigid elements pivotally connected together and provided withabutting end surfaces, where by said elements can be moved out oflongitudinal alinement in one direction only.

3. A molding apparatus having in combination a support for a flask, aroller movable over the flask to pack the sand therein, a support forsaid roller when in inoperative position, a linked plunger connected tosaid roller, having a plurality of rack teeth on each link thereof, apinion meshing with said teeth for driving said plunger, and means forrotating said pinion.

4. A molding apparatus having in combination a support for a flask, aroller movable over the flask to pack the sand therein, a support forsaid roller when in inoperative position, a linked plunger connected tosaid roller, rack teeth on said links, and a guide for maintainingoperative relation between said rack teeth and pinion.

5. A molding apparatus having in combination a support for a flask, aroller movable over the flask to pack the sand therein, a support forsaid roller when in inoperative position, a linked plunger connected tosaid roller, rack teeth on said links, a pinion for driving said rack,and. stops on said plunger for limiting its travel in both directions.

6. A molding apparatus having in combination a support for a flask, aroller movable over the flask to pack the sand therein,.

a support for said roller when in inoperative position, a linked plungerconnected to said roller, rack teeth on said links, a pinion for drivingsaid rack, means to rotate said pinion, a well for receiving the inoperative portion of said linked plunger, and a pulley for guiding saidplunger from said well to said pinion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of twosubscribing I Witnesses.

WALTER H. HOFMANN.

Witnesses: V

F. K. ARUNDEL, Joe. B. DoNoHun.

Copies -01 this .patent may be obtainedior five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, I). 0.

